February 20, 2025
Yesterday afternoon we reported that the Steuben County Legislature had voted in executive session on January 27 not to appeal the Steuben County Judge’s decision from November, to restore Sheriff Jim Allard’s indemnification and insurance. We also reported that even though the county voted not to file an appeal, that the county was going to appeal the judge’s decision anyway.
Here’s why: County Manager Kelly Fitzpatrick says, it’s because the county’s outside counsel says that because former County Legislative Chair Scott Van Etten was named in the lawsuit and because Van Etten wants to pursue the appeal, the outside counsel says the county legislature has an obligation to defend Van Etten legally, since Van Etten is named in the Sheriff’s litigation.
